Bear Rock Cafe - Out?

A dichotomy wrapped in an enigma. Yup.

 

Lalida, I have not yet met you as we do not eat out often. What about puting a flyer up in the school board building? I think maybe the problem might be that people are not really aware that this center has some places open yet. Have you posted anything on the other local HOA boards? Perhaps you could talk to someone on the special events committee to see if you could partner with them for some event. Just a few ideas. And when we get flush again in moola, we will definately come to visit you

 

Brassy@39,

Thanks for your ideas. I did contact several HOA committees around here but haven't got responses yet. As for putting the fly at the school administration building, I wasn't sure if they allow me to. But at this point, I'll give it a shot.

Thanks again and hope to see you at Anothai soon.

Lalida.

 

Well I was hoping to get you a link to the Lansdowne forum, but I guess if you don't live there you can't get it. Then I checked out Ashburn Farm's site - well it doesn't appear to have a forum, well that site is just amazing. I'm surpised that VM doesn't help you out more with advertising or getting the word out in other ways. If I think of anything else I'll let you know.

 

Re: Bear Rock Cafe - Out? SW suggestions

A few suggestions for SW plaza

1. CHICK-FIL-A (with a kid play area)

2. TRADER JOES - Probably not allowed with Harris Teeter there? but it sure would be nice to have a Loud. Co location!

3. DOLLAR TREE - It's not a sexy place BUT the nicely kept DOLLAR TREE stores are pretty useful. We do not have one around here except a (somewhat untidy) location in Leesburg. And would NOT recommend Dollar General or the knock off versions but the actual Dollar Tree.
They're a fun place with some neat things and young kids seem to like going in there for a "treat".
www.dollartree.com

4. PAINT STORE - A small paint store might be a good addition. (Sher Williams, Duron, Benj Moore?)

 

I'm frequently working out of the Verizon Datacenter and we'll usually hit up places closer to Wegmans. Being a resident, I'm always trying to get my crew out to different places and have been pushing the restaurants near Giant and Harris Teeter. In fact we hit Fosters 2 weeks ago for lunch and there were only 6 people in there. We have friends who live in the northern part of Broadlands and they haven't heard of any of the restaurants near Harris Teeter. How do you attract more people from that section who have been used to the Safeway shopping center? Unfortunately "road spam" gets people irritated like there is no tomorrow. One suggestion would maybe to help cater one of the Broadlands Live events. Just a suggestion though. Does Brambleton have a Thai food restaurant? If not then you definitely have an in down there and can pull business from that neighborhood as well. On a side note...any one partaking in the festivities for the Grande Opening at the shopping center in Southern Walk?

 

Lalida, unfortunately you are one of many Thai places in the area with two new ones opening very soon in Brambleton (My Thai Place) and Ryan Park Center (House of Thai). You have a very nice restaurant and are obviously concerned with customer service and making sure your customers enjoy their experience and come back. However, your location is at a bit of a disadvantage for the lunch crowd. There are really three main lunch groups restaurants in our area can attract:

1) Local Residents
2) Professionals
3) Contractors

Contractors working on all the new construction projects in the area will frequent the Subways, other Deli like places and the Fast Food restaurants in the area and probably won't have the time or desire for a nice sit down Thai lunch.

That would leave you with the local resident crowd (hopefully will be much more active about eating out in the summer) and the professionals from Verizon, the School Admin Bdlg, the Professional Buildings in Ashburn, etc..

Some things you can do (I am sure you have already tried many of them) are:

- Complete your website if it is not already up and running
- Post your menu/brochure at local businesses.
- Sponsor local events like the outdoor concerts
- Offer 2 for 1 specials, 20% off or something like that to initially get people to come visit your restaurant. You need to do something to draw them in. Once they have been there they will be hooked!
- You have built up a great following of faithful residents that love your restaurant and I am sure are willing to help spread the word and post menus where they work to ensure your restaurant is successful. Customer referrals are a huge part of the success of any business.
- Offer a customer loyalty program, eat 4 times the 5th is free type of thing.

I know you really care what the the customers think and it's been amazing how the response and good will that is seen on this board about your restaurant which is a tribute to you. As I said, once people visit your restaurant once they'll be hooked.

 

Thank you everyone for taking your time to help me out. That's what keeps me going everyday. I did try most of the marketing techniques suggested;

1. Our website has been up for a month; www.anothairestaurant.com
2. We are sponsoring Spirit Days for both SNOW swim team and Lansdowne Lightning swim team
3. We are one of sponsors for Broadlands Live Summer Concert
4. We've been giving coupon for 'kids eat free' and 'buy 2 get 1 free' for a few weeks.

I'm so grateful to all the positive comments and the warm welcome the community has been given us. I'll implement the customer loyalty program this weekend. Thanks again for al your suggestions.

Lalida.

 

Lalida,

Don't forget about your local Broadlands Piranhas swim team this summer. One of the pools is almost right behind you. Meets are usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

 

I'll contact them as well.

Thanks.
Lalida.

 

The local PTA's are always looking for donations for school events - door prizes, raffle drawings, silent auctions, teacher appreciation gifts, etc. And/or offer discounts to teachers for bulk lunch delivery orders...

 

I have already contacted several schools in the area but haven't been there to personally introduce our restaurant. I will put that on my priority for next week.

Thank you very much for your suggestion.
Lalida.

 

Jeezz all this talk is making ne hungry for anothai.

I know where I am going to have lunch in the middle of the afternoon. Hey why don't some of you here join me say around 3pm. I could change the time if someone really is serious like I am.

Lee j

 

Ty- Thanks for posting.

I'm a mom with 2 kids and I'm all for a fun, healthy eating joint in the new shopping center. A quick eats kind of a place as sharse suggested.

I'll agree w/the following suggestions:
-ONaturals
-Chick Fil A - family friendly (esp. w/a play area)
-Jamba Juice - maybe not feasible w/Roobeks down the street but it would be great
-Baja Fresh

 

FWIW ... you should also show how easy it is to get to your restaurant using the back roads from Loudoun Co Pkwy on any flyer aimed at Verizon, AOL, etc !

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A 'CORNER BAKERY' AROUND HERE !!!

 

I too would love to have a Corner Bakery around here !! Great place for breakfast and lunch !!

 

I third that. That's a great place, breakfast and lunches are yummy!

 

How about a good old fashioned diner or coffee shop for Ashburn like you see in New Jersey, Long Island etc?
Metro 29 Diner in Falls Church also comes to mind (US 29 and Glebe).
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast. Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast-you get my drift- and maybe even 24 hours?